KUALA LUMPUR, July 5 — When Zulairi Ahmad was told that he could not use polystyrene packaging when selling chicken rice at the Petaling Jaya Section 14 Ramadan bazaar this year, he opted for the next best thing — plastic containers.

Selangor plans to phase out polystyrene use by 2017 but rolled out the ban on polystyrene packaging in Ramadan bazaars and pasar malams this year.

The Star Online reported that the same ban will be implemented in markets and food stalls in August while shopping complexes will follow suit in October.

But traders like Zulairi found that using alternative packaging has a price. One that affects the bottom line.

"The cost is really high, I paid RM22 for 100 plastic containers but polystyrene only costs me around RM8.50 for the same amount. It is a good campaign but the alternative is too expensive. I did not increase my food prices but I charged an extra 50 sen for those using my plastic containers,” said Zulairi.

Traders at the Subang Jaya Ramadan bazaar expressed similar frustration with the higher cost. "They said don’t use polystyrene, we will issue you a RM500 fine but that’s about it. Nothing about alternative packaging. I changed my packaging after they made such threats but it’s costing my business quite a lot as I don’t transfer it to my customer,” said Rohana Ahmad who sells kuih and other savouries at the bazaar.

Another trader Zuridah Zolfaka who sells traditional Malay sweetmeats and kuih at the same Subang Jaya bazaar accused the state government of "bullying” them with the campaign, complaining that traders are losing money over it.

"Don’t let us use, then why sell? Start your campaign with the manufacturers. We are losing money! They have been going about town with this message for a while now but factories are still producing. Don’t bully or blame us for using it,” she said.

Despite the unhappiness over the extra cost which they are forced to absorb, most traders at the USJ 4 Ramadan bazaar in Subang Jaya opted for more environment-friendly packing options.

A check at stalls in the bazaar saw most using translucent plastic packs and paper wraps to pack their food.

However, some traders like Tarmizi Antana did not follow suit and complained about the "atrocious” prices of these alternative packaging.

Traders at Ramadan bazaars were frustrated by the cost of the alternative packages as they did not want to raise prices so many ended up just absorbing the cost.

"I did buy those alternative paper boxes from the local council when they introduced it. It was RM22 for 100 packs, whereas polystyrene is only RM6 for 100 packs. See the margin? They are not making it easy for us.

"I did complain to them that the cost is not feasible but they did not seem to care. Look at the difference between RM6 and RM22! The initiative is good, I agree. If it is good we follow but it’s the price that we can’t follow,” Antana said.

Another trader from the Petaling Jaya Ramadan bazaar who only wished to be known as Herde was equally adamant about using polystyrene packs for his kuih as he refused to bear the higher cost for the alternative packaging.

"Since it is expensive, I am not going to follow the ban. I rather risk using polystyrene again next year,” he said.

Malay Mail Online observed that some traders, particularly those from the Petaling Jaya Ramadan bazaar and Shah Alam Section 13 bazaar, still used polystyrene packaging despite being informed or warned by their local councils.

Trader Abdul Rahman in Shah Alam claimed that it was easier to replace stock for polystyrene packaging as the biodegradable ones provided by their local council (MBSA), which was more expensive, are not as readily available.

Trader Syan Norzin said he went back to using polystyrene packs when he ran out of alternative packages.

Syan Norzin from Petaling Jaya also returned to using polystyrene packaging when he ran out of his new plastic food packs as it was easier to replenish polystyrene packs.

Several consumers in Subang Jaya and Petaling Jaya seemed unaware of Selangor’s "Say No To Polystyrene” campaign but most said they were willing to pay extra for alternative packaging or bring their own containers from home.